Screen doors

D

dan jacquot

New member
May 17, 2000
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I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen the
sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
but need to know if there is a demand for it???

Dan
 
yes there is a very large demand.

gene

>I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen the
>sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
>warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
>but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>
>Dan
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
Dan, I reckon if you can produce a screen door as good as Alex Birch did,
you'll be kept pretty busy for a long while. There's been a whole lot of
interest in these.

Good Luck!
bdub

>I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen the
>sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
>warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
>but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>
>Dan
 
>I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen the
>sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
>warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
>but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>
>Dan

Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
$40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
that way of what the market might be.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Santa Fe, NM
 
On Fri, 9 Jun 2000 09:36:29 -0600 "Dan Jacquot"
writes:
> I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
> seen the
> sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
> would
> warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing
> the door
> but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>
> Dan
>

Alex's screen doors were a great inovation at the time but there are
drawbacks in my opinion.

1. In order to fit between the door and the frame they are made of very
thin material and consequently I have heard owners complain of a need to
realign them often.

2. If you have a window valance that juts out from the door the screen
will interfere with it.

3. If you have a push bar on your door (as a number of owners do) it will
preclude the use of the Birch screen door.

For the above reasons, I went to a door made in Canada by Phantom Screens
that works on a roller mounted scren. The screen disappears into a spring
loaded roller that sits to the right or left of the door frame. Magnets
on the oposite side of the door hold the screen open. When released from
the magnets, the screen rolls into the verticle column.

Jim Bounds is looking into a dstributorship with Phantom as there is a
lot of interest in this door. The price installed was a tad over $300 and
comes with a 3 year warranty. The company insists on using their
installer (this is where Jim comes in) but installation is quite simple,
IMHO!

Because the screen is mounted plumb and doesn't follow the curve of the
coach, your installation may require a style on the right side of the
screen roller, depending on your floor plan. In my case I had a lexan
style fabricated.

Try http://www.phanomscreens.com for more info.

There is undoubtedly a market for the Birch door but I think someone has
come up with a better mousetrap, excuse me; screen door!

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated To The Preservation Of The GMC Classic!
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm
 
Found a web site for roll up screen doors.
I believe Dave Greenberg has one on his GMC. We have a screen door on
our GMC which hits the awning when opened. The site is
www.phantomscreens.com. Dave if this is the same type of door that you
have maybe you could tell us the pros and cons of it.
The other Jim
 
While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
Thanks
Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
Antigonish NS

> >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen the
> >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
> >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
> >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> >
> >Dan
>
> Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
> was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
> $40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
> that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
> You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
> interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
> that way of what the market might be.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Santa Fe, NM
>
 
I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
Michigan to Texas.

bdub

>While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
>in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
>Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
>Thanks
>Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
> Antigonish NS
>
>
> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
> seen the
> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> > >
> > >Dan
> >
> > Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
> > was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
> > $40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
> > that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
> > You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
> > interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
> > that way of what the market might be.
> >
> > Emery Stora
> > 77 Kingsley
> > Santa Fe, NM
> >
 
>I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
>Michigan to Texas.
>
>bdub
>
YIKES! That's half the cost of my 3.55 finals or fuel injection. The screen
door just slipped quite a few noitches on the wish list.

Dave (advisor/navigator) & Dege (ALL else), '76 Royale, Santa Barbara, CA
 
$600 eh. Yikeohs. I, when I get my act together, should be able to do it
for about 1/2 of that. Darren

> I understand that TZE out of Canada is close to bringing out a new screen
> door, perhaps they can speak for themselves?
>
> Ken
> 76 Royale

- --
Darren Paget
76 Experimental
Another Fab Day
http://www.TZEplus.com
 
YIKES! is what I thought!

When the PO was showing us around the GMC, he kept pointing out the screen
door. He was evidently very proud of it. It wasn't until a few days later
when I was going through his collection of receipts that I figured out why
he was so proud of it. I told my wife that we ought to take it off and put
it in a very safe place since it must be made of gold!

It does work very well though and fits like it was made for it. We
wouldn't be without it.

bdub

>$600 eh. Yikeohs. I, when I get my act together, should be able to do it
>for about 1/2 of that. Darren
>

>
> > I understand that TZE out of Canada is close to bringing out a new screen
> > door, perhaps they can speak for themselves?
> >
> > Ken
> > 76 Royale
>
>--
> Darren Paget
> 76 Experimental
> Another Fab Day
> http://www.TZEplus.com
 
On Fri, 9 Jun 2000 17:02:20 -0400 (EDT) slwjmw (jim wagner)
writes:
> Found a web site for roll up screen doors.
> I believe Dave Greenberg has one on his GMC. We have a screen door
> on
> our GMC which hits the awning when opened. The site is
> www.phantomscreens.com. Dave if this is the same type of door that
> you
> have maybe you could tell us the pros and cons of it.
> The other Jim
>
I did offer my observations about the Birch door and the Phantom door but
I haven't seen it come up on the Net yet. Lets wait awhile and see if it
appears.

I get lots of positive comments about the Phantom door and I would expect
it will cost less then $350 installed.

David Lee Greenberg
GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated To The Preservation Of The GMC Classic!
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm
 
I have one and recommend it for anyone. I works great and does the
job. The design is good and could use some tweaking as I had to work
real hard to get it installed. However, if I did not have one I
would buy one of Alex's.
al

>I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen the
>sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
>warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
>but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>
>Dan
 
Alex Birch sold the Screen doors for $280 plus shipping. If I decide to do
this the price maybe slightly higher (arround $300). If there is interest
let mew know.
Dan

- -----Original Message-----
From: Billy Massey
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Friday, June 09, 2000 3:33 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors

>I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
>Michigan to Texas.
>
>bdub
>
>

>>While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
>>in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
>>Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
>>Thanks
>>Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
>> Antigonish NS
>>
>>
>> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
>> seen the
>> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
would
>> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
door
>> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>> > >
>> > >Dan
>> >
>> > Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
>> > was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
>> > $40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
>> > that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
>> > You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
>> > interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
>> > that way of what the market might be.
>> >
>> > Emery Stora
>> > 77 Kingsley
>> > Santa Fe, NM
>> >
>
 
Wow! I must've remembered wrong. It couldn't have been that much
different than everyone else's. I'll look up the receipt again when the
coach gets back home from Austin.

bdub

>Alex Birch sold the Screen doors for $280 plus shipping. If I decide to do
>this the price maybe slightly higher (arround $300). If there is interest
>let mew know.
>Dan
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Billy Massey
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Date: Friday, June 09, 2000 3:33 PM
>Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors
>
>
> >I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
> >Michigan to Texas.
> >
> >bdub
> >
> >

> >>While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
> >>in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
> >>Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
> >>Thanks
> >>Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
> >> Antigonish NS
> >>
> >>
> >> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
> >> seen the
> >> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
>would
> >> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
>door
> >> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> >> > >
> >> > >Dan
> >> >
> >> > Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
> >> > was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
> >> > $40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
> >> > that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
> >> > You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
> >> > interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
> >> > that way of what the market might be.
> >> >
> >> > Emery Stora
> >> > 77 Kingsley
> >> > Santa Fe, NM
> >> >
> >
 
I have one of the Birch doors on my coach. It came with the coach when I bought
it. At the time I was looking at the GMC we bought, the PO kept talking about
the screen door. I was saying to myself, "what's the big deal with a screen
door? My house has a screen door and I don't point it out to people that come
over."

Also, I thought everyone had one on their GMC's so I didn't think it was a big
deal. The more he talked about it, the more nervous I got. It seemed kind of
like when you're looking at a house to buy and the only thing the owner can come
up with why it's a good deal is because it has a new water heater. Well that's
what I thought about the Birch screen door. Big deal!

It is nicely made. It fits pretty well. However, we have never used it as
intended. So far in the last 2 years we never have had the door open and the
screen door closed. Part of that is because we don't have anything to keep the
door from banging back and forth in the breeze. Some sort of hook would be nice
to keep the door secure against the side of the coach while the screen door is
keeping the bugs out.

We now realize what a treasure we have. The screen door is probably worth more
then having a new engine or tranny or something :^) I lan on using the screen
door this Summer. And, no it is not for sale!
Richard Waters
'76 PB, Troy, MI

> I have one and recommend it for anyone. I works great and does the
> job. The design is good and could use some tweaking as I had to work
> real hard to get it installed. However, if I did not have one I
> would buy one of Alex's.
> al
>
> >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen the
> >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
> >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the door
> >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> >
> >Dan
 
Richard we use a short bungee strap to keep the door open, hook to bottom of
door and underside of coach, works great.

- -----Original Message-----
From: owner-gmcmotorhome
[mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Richard Waters
Sent: Friday, June 09, 2000 11:13 PM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors

I have one of the Birch doors on my coach. It came with the coach when I
bought
it. At the time I was looking at the GMC we bought, the PO kept talking
about
the screen door. I was saying to myself, "what's the big deal with a screen
door? My house has a screen door and I don't point it out to people that
come
over."

Also, I thought everyone had one on their GMC's so I didn't think it was a
big
deal. The more he talked about it, the more nervous I got. It seemed kind
of
like when you're looking at a house to buy and the only thing the owner can
come
up with why it's a good deal is because it has a new water heater. Well
that's
what I thought about the Birch screen door. Big deal!

It is nicely made. It fits pretty well. However, we have never used it as
intended. So far in the last 2 years we never have had the door open and
the
screen door closed. Part of that is because we don't have anything to keep
the
door from banging back and forth in the breeze. Some sort of hook would be
nice
to keep the door secure against the side of the coach while the screen door
is
keeping the bugs out.

We now realize what a treasure we have. The screen door is probably worth
more
then having a new engine or tranny or something :^) I lan on using the
screen
door this Summer. And, no it is not for sale!
Richard Waters
'76 PB, Troy, MI

> I have one and recommend it for anyone. I works great and does the
> job. The design is good and could use some tweaking as I had to work
> real hard to get it installed. However, if I did not have one I
> would buy one of Alex's.
> al
>
> >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have seen
the
> >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it would
> >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
door
> >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> >
> >Dan
 
Thanks to all that responded on the Alex Birch Screen Door. Billy, Was the
receipt from Albea or a middle man and did you really pay 600 bucks? Just
curious.
Dan

- -----Original Message-----
From: Billy Massey
To: gmcmotorhome
Date: Friday, June 09, 2000 3:33 PM
Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors

>I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
>Michigan to Texas.
>
>bdub
>
>

>>While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
>>in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
>>Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
>>Thanks
>>Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
>> Antigonish NS
>>
>>
>> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
>> seen the
>> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
would
>> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
door
>> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
>> > >
>> > >Dan
>> >
>> > Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
>> > was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
>> > $40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
>> > that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
>> > You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
>> > interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
>> > that way of what the market might be.
>> >
>> > Emery Stora
>> > 77 Kingsley
>> > Santa Fe, NM
>> >
>
 
I'll know for sure after I have a chance to dig out that receipt tonight
when the coach gets back home from Austin. I can't remember who it was
from. Just that it is yellow and has red print. :-) I remember being
shocked about the price of it though.

I'll holler tonight when I find it.

bdub

>Thanks to all that responded on the Alex Birch Screen Door. Billy, Was the
>receipt from Albea or a middle man and did you really pay 600 bucks? Just
>curious.
>Dan
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Billy Massey
>To: gmcmotorhome
>Date: Friday, June 09, 2000 3:33 PM
>Subject: Re: GMC: Screen doors
>
>
> >I've got a receipt that shows a little over $600 including shipping from
> >Michigan to Texas.
> >
> >bdub
> >
> >

> >>While I do know where there is a NOS Alex Birch Screen door still
> >>in the cardboard wrapper, does anyone know what they sold for ??
> >>Sorry, I'm not permitted to reveal the location....yet !
> >>Thanks
> >>Mikeb ' 77 Kingsley
> >> Antigonish NS
> >>
> >>
> >> > >I would like your comments on Alex Birch Screen doors??? I have
> >> seen the
> >> > >sceen door and think it is a great product but was wondering if it
>would
> >> > >warrant reproducing them. I have talked to Alex about producing the
>door
> >> > >but need to know if there is a demand for it???
> >> > >
> >> > >Dan
> >> >
> >> > Dan - I think that there might be a small market. I believe that it
> >> > was posted on this site a year or so ago that Birch wanted about
> >> > $40,000 for his company and patterns, etc. I doubt that there is
> >> > that much of a market though to justify that much up front expense.
> >> > You could always post an inquiry on this site as to who might be
> >> > interested if you could produce a satisfactory door and get some idea
> >> > that way of what the market might be.
> >> >
> >> > Emery Stora
> >> > 77 Kingsley
> >> > Santa Fe, NM
> >> >
> >
 
some of the problems that folks are not talking about when you make a
screen door are:

When you don't need it you want the screen door to be invisible. It cannot
use up space, be seen, or get in the way. Folks just will not put up with
it.

Most of the straight doors like the phantom, wood, etc, cannot be made
universal because the insides of the coaches are not alike. Each would
need a custom entry way built which uses up most of the doorway and almost
eliminates the storage on both sides of the door. I think this is what
Daren found out.

Because they are straight, they fit close at the top and away at the
bottom, you have to reach through them to get at the exit door latch, lock,
etc. They use a lot of the doorway space, and we do not have much space to
waste.
- -------------
The best thing people say about the old screen door is "I thought it was
factory" which I guess it almost was since he worked there when they made
the GMC.

It fits snug to the entry door for door controls.
It disappears with the entry door when they are open.
it takes no room inside the coach
It is rugged, made from Aluminum
It is part of the entry door when it is not in use
It matches the style of the GMC
It is hard to adjust
It is hard to Mount
It is no longer available.

Maybe his Son will make them......
gene

>for $50 for a wooden screen door from Home depot, and a couple of scribed
>lengths of wood(to make a casing)to fit the door opening of the coach, one
>can have a beautiful functional screen door. Just my opinion. But it works!
>
>tom
>
>

>>$600 eh. Yikeohs. I, when I get my act together, should be able to do it
>>for about 1/2 of that. Darren
>>

>>
>>> I understand that TZE out of Canada is close to bringing out a new screen
>>> door, perhaps they can speak for themselves?
>>>
>>> Ken
>>> 76 Royale
>>
>>--
>> Darren Paget
>> 76 Experimental
>> Another Fab Day
>> http://www.TZEplus.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Genef -- 77PB/ore/ca
GMC MOTORHOME INFORMATION
mr.erf
http://www.california.com/~eagle/
 
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